Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen, Vines
  
Tree
  
Origin
India, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Southern Asia
  
Hybrid origin, Southeastern Asia
  
Types
Red pepper, Orange pepper
  
Bauhinia. blakeana, Bauhinia variegata Candida.
  
Habitat
Moist Soils, orchards, Temperate Regions
  
tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 13, 19, 21, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
  
Pink, Light Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Lavender, Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red, Green, Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Circular cordate
  
Orbiculate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Grafting, Layering, Stem Cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Sprinkle water over foliage, Water every two or three days during warmer months
  
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Remove dead branches, Trim each shoot back to the first set of leaves
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
10-10-10 diluted liquid fertilizer, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Do not let fertilizers touch the leaves
  
Less fertilizing
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Beetles, Root rot, Rust, Scab
  
Bacterial leaf scorch, Borers, Caterpillars, Leaf spot, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction
  
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Not Available
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Aphids, Leafminer, Snails, Squirrels
  
Bees, Birds
  
Allergy
Oral Allergy
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Decorating walls
  
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Blackheads
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Fixes Nitrogen, Insect Repellent
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Acid Reflux, Dysentry, Healthy teeth, Inflammation, Oral health
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds
  
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used in herbal medicines
  
Food for insects, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Piper nigrum
  
BAUHINIA blakeana
  
Common Name
Peppercorn, Piper, Black pepper
  
Blake's Butterfly Tree, Chinese Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Orchid Tree
  
In Hindi
काली मिर्च
  
हांगकांग आर्किड पेड़
  
In German
Pfeffer
  
Hong Kong Orchidee Baum
  
In French
Piper nigrum
  
Hong Kong arbre d'orchidée
  
In Spanish
Poivrier noir
  
árbol de orquídea Hong Kong
  
In Greek
μαύρο πιπέρι
  
δέντρο ορχιδέα Χονγκ Κονγκ
  
In Portuguese
Pimenta-preta
  
árvore de orquídea de Hong Kong
  
In Polish
Pieprz czarny
  
storczyk drzewo Hong Kong
  
In Latin
nigrum piperis
  
Hong Kong Orchid ligno
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Piperales
  
Fabales
  
Family
Piperaceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Piper
  
Bauhinia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Caesalpinioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available